Security document with biometric or photographic image

ABSTRACT

A security document or token in the form of an identity card ( 10 ) is provided which incorporates a biometric or photographic image ( 24 ) provided in a transparent region or window ( 18 ) such that the image is substantially distinguishable from both sides of the card ( 10 ). Regions of partial or varying opacity ( 20, 30 ) are provided adjacent to or surround the window ( 18 ). A portion ( 27 ) of the photographic image ( 24 ) extends into at least one region of partial or varying opacity ( 20 ), and another portion ( 25 ) of the image extends into the substantially opaque region ( 22 ) surrounding the window ( 18 ) and the regions ( 20, 30 ). The portion ( 27 ) of the image which extends into the region of partial or varying opacity is at least partly visible from both sides of the document in transmission, but only visible from one side of the document in reflection. The regions of partial or varying opacity ( 22 ) and the photographic image ( 24 ) may be applied to a base support or substrate ( 32 ) in such a manner that removal of the image ( 24 ) from the substrate ( 32 ) results in removal or damage of the regions of partial or varying opacity ( 20, 30 ).

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to security documents or tokens bearingbiometric or photographic images.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

As used herein, the term “security documents or tokens” includesdocuments such as identity documents, value documents or entrancedocuments, which in turn respectively include: passports, visas,identity cards, drivers licences, and security entrance cards,banknotes, shares, bonds, certificates, cheques, lottery tickets, bankcards, charge cards and credit cards, and aeroplane tickets, bustickets, railroad tickets, and tickets to fun parks or specific rides.These security documents or tokens typically include some form ofauthenticity verification to guard against copying and fraudulentalteration. The authenticity verification typically includes a magneticstrip, but may include other forms of verification such as a signatureand/or a photographic image.

Identity documents and value documents such as identity cards and creditcards, are typically formed of a stiff opaque plastics card andphotographic images may be provided on one side of the card. In somecases the photograph is covered with laminated plastic sheet.

In view of requirements for increasing levels of security, it isdesirable to provide an alternative image bearing security document ortoken. It is desirable that the alternative security document or tokenincludes an identifying image, such as a photographic or biometricimage, and that a preferred form of the alternative security documentincludes alternative and/or additional means for preventing fraudulentreplacement or alteration of the image.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a securitydocument or token bearing indicia, wherein the document has atransparent region and a biometric image provided in said transparentregion, wherein the biometric image is substantially distinguishablewhen viewed from both sides of the document or token.

The biometric image may comprise any form of image which is unique to aperson, such as a fingerprint, but in a preferred form of the invention,the biometric image is a photograph of a person corresponding to theholder of the document which enables the unique facial structure of theperson to be identified and distinguished from both sides of thesecurity document or token.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided asecurity document or token bearing indicia, wherein the securitydocument has a transparent region and a photographic image provided insaid transparent region, the photographic image being substantiallydistinguishable when viewed from both sides of the document or token,wherein the photographic image is an image of a person's face, the imageenabling the unique facial structure of the person to be identified anddistinguished from both sides of the security document or token.

The security document or token may comprise, for example, any one of thefollowing: identity documents such as passports, visas, identity cards,drivers licences, and security entrance cards, value documents such asbanknotes, shares, bonds, certificates, cheques, lottery tickets, bankcards, charge cards and credit cards, and entrance documents such asaeroplane tickets, bus tickets, railroad tickets, and tickets to funparks or specific rides.

Preferably, at least the transparent region of the security document isformed from a transparent plastics material. The security document maycomprise a substantially opaque support, eg. of paper, card or opaqueplastics material, which includes a transparent portion forming thetransparent region or “window”. However, the security document morepreferably includes a transparent substrate of plastics material whichis covered with one or more opacifying layers or coatings except in thearea of the transparent region or window.

In one embodiment, eg. in a security document comprising a flexiblesheet such as a banknote, cheque or security paper, the transparentsubstrate may be covered by one or more opacifying layers of ink orother pigments. In another embodiment, the transparent substrate may becovered by layers of stiffer material, eg. to form a credit card,identity card or the like.

The substrate preferably comprises a polymeric material, and morepreferably the substrate comprises at least one bi-axially orientatedpolymeric film, such as described in WO 83/00659, the contents of whichare incorporated herein by reference.

In a preferred form, the security document has at least one region ofpartial or varying opacity adjacent to or surrounding the transparentregion or window.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, part of the biometric orphotographic image extends into said at least one region of partial orvarying opacity.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided asecurity document or token bearing indicia, wherein the document ortoken has a transparent region, at least one region of partial orvarying opacity adjacent to or surrounding the transparent region, andan image provided in the transparent region, the image beingsubstantially distinguishable when viewed from both sides of thedocument or token, and the image extending into the at least one regionof partial or varying opacity.

Preferably, part of the image extends beyond said transparent region tooverlay a portion of at least one substantially opaque region of thedocument or token which is adjacent to or surrounds said transparentregion, or which is adjacent to or surrounds said at least one region ofpartial or varying opacity.

The at least one region of partial or varying opacity is preferablyprovided on at least one side of the image, with at least a portion ofsaid at least one region of partial or varying opacity being providedbetween the image and the surrounding opaque region.

The at least one region of partial or varying opacity is preferablyprovided on at least one side of the image, with at least a portion ofsaid at least one region of partial or varying opacity being providedbetween the image and the surrounding opaque region.

The at least one region of partial or varying opacity may be formed byat least one partially opacifying pigment coating. In one preferredembodiment, one or more regions of varying opacity may comprisedifferent forms of a partially opacifying pigment coating, such asdescribed in WO 83/00659 in which the different forms having differentproportions of a major portion of pigment in a minor portion ofcross-linked polymeric binder, thereby providing different degrees ofopacity.

Alternatively, the partially opacifying pigment coating may be variablein thickness to provide said one or more regions of varying opacity.

The region or regions of partial or varying opacity adjacent to orsurrounding the transparent region enable different visual effects to beachieved when at least one part of the image extends into the region orregions of partial or varying opacity. For instance, part or parts ofthe image extending into a region or regions of partial opacity may beat least partly visible from both sides of the document in transmission,and visible from only the side on which the image is applied when viewedin reflection. A region of partial opacity may also be of varyingopacity, for example the region may have a lesser degree of opacityadjacent to the transparent region and a greater degree of opacityadjacent to a surrounding substantially opaque region.

A photographic image may comprise an image of a person's face.

The image may comprise a digital image, e.g. a printed digitalphotograph.

In one preferred form of the present invention, the image may be applieddirectly onto the substrate, e.g. by printing. Said at least one regionof partial or varying opacity may be applied to the substrate eitherbefore or after printing of the image. In one preferred form of theinvention, the image is laser printed directly onto the transparentregion and said one or more regions of partial or varying opacity.

In another form of the security document, the image is formed onto animaging laminate, the imaging laminate being at least partially bondedto the substrate and said one or more regions of partial or varyingopacity.

The image may be formed onto the imaging laminate by thermal transferprinting.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the at least one region ofpartial or varying opacity and the image are applied to a support orsubstrate in such a manner that removal of the image from the support orsubstrate will also result in removal or damage of the at least oneregion of partial or varying opacity.

Preferably, the adhesion between said one or more regions of partial orvarying opacity and the substrate, and the adhesion between said one ormore regions of partial or varying opacity and said image is such thatgreater force is required to separate said one or more regions ofpartial or varying opacity and said image than is required to separatesaid one or more regions of partial or varying opacity and thesubstrate.

The one or more regions of partial or varying opacity may be at leastpartially bonded to the support or substrate. The bonding of imaginglaminate and/or said one or more regions of partial or varying opacityto the support or substrate may be achieved by use of an adhesive.

Alternatively, or additionally, heat and/or pressure may be used in thebonding process.

The security document or token may include at least one securitylaminate provided on at least one side of the support or substrate.Preferably, the security document includes security laminates on bothsides of the support or substrate which encapsulate the image and thesupport or substrate.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided amethod of forming a security document or token comprising: providing asupport with a transparent region, and providing a biometric orphotographic image in the transparent region so that the biometric orphotographic image is distinguishable when viewed from both sides of thesupport.

The support may comprise a substantially opaque sheet or substrate whichis provided with a transparent portion of plastics material forming thetransparent region or window. Preferably, the support includes atransparent substrate of plastics material which is covered with one ormore opacifying layers except in the area of the transparent region orwindow.

Preferably, the method further comprises the step of applying the imageto said support. The method preferably also includes the step ofexternally applying one or more regions of partial or varying opacity tothe support adjacent to or surrounding the transparent region.

The step of applying one or more regions of partial or varying opacityto the support may comprise at least partially bonding said one or moreregions to the support. The step of at least partially bonding said oneor more regions of partial or varying opacity to said support mayinclude application of an adhesive.

Alternatively, the step of applying one or more regions of partial orvarying opacity to said support may comprise application of one or moreforms of a partially opacifying pigment coating.

The partially opacifying pigment coating may be applied to differentregions of said support in different thicknesses to provide said one ormore regions of varying opacity.

The step of applying said image to said support may be performed beforeor after the step of applying one or more regions of partial or varyingopacity to said support.

The image is preferably applied in such a manner as to extend partiallyinto said one or more regions of partial or varying opacity.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a methodof forming a security document or token comprising the steps ofproviding a support with a transparent region, applying one or moreregions of partial or varying opacity to the support adjacent to orsurrounding the transparent region, and providing an image in thetransparent region, the image being substantially distinguishable whenviewed from both sides of the support, and the image extending into theat least one region of partial or varying opacity.

The step of applying the image to said support may include applying oneportion of the image to said one or more regions of partial varyingopacity and another portion of the image to a substantially opaqueregion of the support.

In one form of the method, the image is applied directly. Preferably,direct application of the image comprises printing of said image, andmore preferably by laser printing.

In another form of the method, the image is applied indirectly, via animaging laminate. The step of applying the image indirectly via theimaging laminate may include the step of thermally printing said imageonto said imaging laminate.

Preferably the image and said one or more regions of partial or varyingopacity are applied to the support in such a manner that removal of theimage from the support results in removal or damage of at least oneregion of partial or varying opacity. This may be achieved byapplication of said one or more regions of partial or varying opacity tosaid support and application of said image to said one or more regionsof partial or varying opacity and said support resulting in adhesionbetween (a) said one or more regions of partial or varying opacity andsaid support and (b) said one or more regions of partial or varyingopacity and said image being such that greater force is required toseparate said one or more regions of partial or varying opacity and saidimage than is required to separate said one or more regions of partialor varying opacity and said support.

The method preferably includes the step of converting said image todigital form prior to said step of providing said image in a transparentregion of a support.

The method may include the steps of providing at least one securitylaminate on at least one side of the support. Preferably, the methodincludes the step of encapsulating said image and said support betweensecurity laminates on both sides of the support.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described,by way of example only, with reference to the following drawings inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an identity card of the present invention priorto application of a biometric or photographic image;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the identity card of FIG. 1 including abiometric or photographic image.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of an opposite side of the identity card of FIG. 2to that shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an exploded sectional view through A-A of FIG. 1 showing thelayers forming the identify card of FIGS. 2 and 3 using one method ofproduction which involves printing a biometric or photographic imagedirectly onto a base substrate;

FIG. 5 is an exploded sectional view similar to FIG. 4 showing analternative method of production; and

FIG. 6 is an exploded sectional view through A-A of FIG. 1 similar tothat of FIG. 4 showing a further method of production which involves animaging laminate.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1-3 show an embodiment of an identity card 10 in accordance withthe present invention. Specific forms of the identity card 10 bearindicia (not shown) on either or both sides 12 and 14. Features of theidentity card 10 and separate processes by which it can be formed, areoutlined below. It will be readily apparent to a person skilled in therelevant art that the features of the identity card 10 and processes bywhich it can be produced, apply to other security documents or tokensreferred to previously in the present specification.

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, the identity card 10 generally comprises aplastic card 16 having a transparent region or window 18, regions ofpartial or varying opacity 20, 30 which are provided adjacent to thetransparent window 18 so as to surround the window, and an opaque region22 of maximum opacity which surrounds the regions of partial or varyingopacity 20, 30 and covers the remainder of both sides 12 and 14 of theidentity card 10. Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the identity card 10 alsoincludes an image, which in the case of the identity card 10 is abiometric image in the form of a photographic image 24. As previouslyexplained, the image can be other than a biometric and/or photographicimage. The photographic image 24 is preferably an image of an upperportion of a person, including the face of the portion. The photographicimage 24 is positioned on the identity card 10 so that the image of theperson's face is positioned approximately centrally of the transparentwindow 18 with part 25 of the image 24, e.g. the person's upper torsoand the background, extending outside the transparent window 18. Theimage of the person's face can be clearly distinguished when viewed fromeither side of the identity card 10 (see FIGS. 2 and 3), whereasportions 25 of the image which extend into the opaque region 22 can onlybe distinguished when viewed from the front side 12. A portion 27 of thephotographic image 24 which extends into the regions of partial orvarying opacity 20, 30, e.g. the person's shoulders, can be clearlydistinguished when viewed from the front side 12 but only partiallydistinguished when viewed from the rear side 14 as shown in FIG. 3

FIG. 4 illustrates one method of producing the identity card 10 from atransparent polymeric sheet 26. With the exception of a region of thetransparent polymeric sheet 26 which corresponds to the transparentwindow 18, the transparent polymeric sheet 26 is covered on both sidesby upper and lower layers of stiffer opaque plastics material 28, 29.The transparent polymeric sheet 26 and layers of stiffer opaque plasticsmaterial 28, 29 are preferably bonded together, e.g. by an adhesive, toform a base substrate 32. The opaque parts 28, 29 of the substrate 32may be subsequently printed with designs, text and other indicia.

In the case of security documents other than, for example, identitycards or credit cards, which are not required to be stiff, thetransparent polymeric sheet 26 can be covered on both sides, except inthe region which corresponds to the transparent window 18, by opacifyinglayers of ink or other pigment coatings.

The transparent polymeric sheet 26 preferably comprises a bi-axiallyorientated polymeric film such as that described in WO 83/00659. Theregions of partial or varying opacity 20, 30 can be applied to one sideof the base substrate 32 and a digitised version of the photographicimage 24 is subsequently laser printed to the same side of the basesubstrate 32 so that it overlays transparent window region 18 and theregions of partial or varying opacity 20, 30. The photographic image 24may also overlie the opaque region 22 of the substrate 32 surroundingthe transparent region 18 and the partial regions of partial or varyingopacity. Transparent security laminates 34 and 36 are then applied, e.g.via adhesive, to both sides of the base substrate 32 to encapsulate thebase substrate 32.

The regions of partial or varying opacity 20, 30 are preferably formedby applying different forms (or thicknesses) of a partially opacifyingpigment coating, such as described in WO 83/00659. The different formscontaining different proportions of a major portion of pigment in aminor portion of polymeric binder. The two different forms of pigmentcoatings may be applied to the base substrate 32 in the manner describedin WO 83/00659.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the coatings forming the regions 20, 30 areprovided in or extend into peripheral areas of the transparent window 18which is not covered by the layers of opaque plastics material 28. Thepigment coatings 20, 30 are preferably partly transparent or translucentso that the peripheral areas of the window covered by the partiallyopacifying coating allow some light to pass through so that parts 27 ofthe photographic image 24 which overlie the regions of partial orvarying opacity are at least partly visible from both sides of thedocument in transmission, and visible from only the side on which thephotographic image is applied when viewed in reflection. The parts 25 ofthe photographic image which overlie the layers of completely opaqueplastic material 28, 29 are only visible from one side of the documentwhen viewed in reflection or transmission as illustrated by FIGS. 2 and3.

Preferably, the security document 10 is designed so that the at leastone of the coatings, 20, 30 which form the regions of partial or varyingopacity would be damaged or removed by an attempt to remove the genuinephotographic image 24 and replace it with a substitute photograph. Thismay be achieved in the embodiment of FIG. 4 by ensuring that theadhesion between the photographic image 24 and the coatings 20, 30 isgreater than the adhesion between the coatings 20, 30 and the basesubstrate 32. Thus any attempt to remove the photographic image 24 willalso result in the coatings 20, 30 being removed or damaged, andreplacement with a substitute photograph will be detectable by theabsence or damage of the regions of partial or varying opacity.

In an alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the photographic image 24is applied directly to the base substrate 32, e.g. by laser printing,with the coatings 20, 30 forming the regions of partial or varyingopacity applied over peripheral areas of the part of the photograph 24in the transparent window 18. The layers of transparent securitylaminate 34, 36 are then applied to both sides of the base substrate 32with the layer 34 covering the photographic image 24 and the coatings20, 30 forming the regions of partial or varying opacity.

In the embodiment of FIG. 5, the adhesion between the coatings 20, 30and the photographic image is preferably greater than the adhesionbetween the security laminate 34 and the coatings 20, 30. Thus anyattempt to remove the photographic image 24 will also result in removalor damage of the regions 20, 30 of partial or varying opacity

Referring to FIG. 6, the identity card 10 is formed by an alternativemethod of production. Rather than printing the photographic image 24directly onto the base substrate 32, the photographic image 24 isapplied on a transparent imaging laminate material which is laminated tothe base substrate 32. For ease of reference, identical referencenumerals are used to refer to like features of the embodiments of FIGS.4, 5 and 6. The photographic image 24 may be applied to the imaginglaminate 44 via thermal transfer printing. The imaging laminate 44 isapplied, e.g. by an adhesive, to the base substrate 32 so that itoverlays the regions of partial or varying opacity 20, 30. The securitylaminates 34 and 36 are then applied to both sides of the base substrate32, as described above in relation to the embodiments of FIGS. 4 and 5.

In the embodiment of FIG. 6, the adhesion between the imaging laminate44 and the coatings 20, 30 forming the regions of partial or varyingopacity is preferably greater than the adhesion between the coatings 20,30 and the base substrate 32. Thus, removal of the imaging laminate 44and photographic image 24 will also cause removal or damage of thecoatings 20, 30 which will be detectable in an attempt to replace thephotographic image 24 with a substitute photograph on another imaginglaminate.

As will be readily apparent to a person skilled in the relevant art,application of the imaging laminate 44 and security laminates 34 and 36may involve heat and/or pressure to facilitate bonding.

In other possible methods of production (not shown), the coatings 20, 30forming the regions of partial or varying opacity may be provided onopposite sides of the base substrate 32, or even on opposite sides ofthe imaging laminate 44 of FIG. 6. In such embodiments removal of thephotographic image may result in removal or damage of one of thecoatings 20, 30 leaving the other coating present so that tampering byreplacement with a substitute photographic image is detectable by theabsence of one coating and the presence of another.

It will be appreciated that various modifications and alterations may bemade to the preferred embodiments described above without departing fromthe scope and spirit of the present invention.

1-56. (canceled)
 57. A security document or token bearing indicia,wherein the document or token has a transparent region, and a biometricimage provided in the transparent region, the biometric image beingsubstantially distinguishable when viewed from both sides of thedocument.
 58. A security document according to claim 57 wherein thebiometric image is an image which is unique to a particular person. 59.A security document or token according to claim 58, wherein thebiometric image is a fingerprint.
 60. A security document or tokenaccording to claim 58, wherein the biometric image is a photograph of aperson corresponding to the holder of the document or token, thephotograph enabling the unique facial structure of the person to beidentified and distinguished from both sides of the document or token.61. A security document or token bearing indicia, wherein the documentor token has a transparent region and a photographic image provided inthe transparent region, the photographic image being substantiallydistinguishable when viewed from both sides of the security document,wherein the photographic image is an image of a person's face, the imageenabling the unique facial structure of the person to be identified anddistinguished from both sides of the document or token.
 62. A securitydocument or token according to claim 57, wherein at least thetransparent region of the security document or token is formed from atransparent plastics material.
 63. A security document or tokenaccording to claim 62 comprising a substantially opaque supportincluding a transparent portion forming the transparent region.
 64. Asecurity document or token according to claim 62 wherein the document ortoken includes a transparent substrate of plastics material which iscovered by one or more opacifying layers or coatings, except in the areaof the transparent region.
 65. A security document or token according toclaim 64 wherein the transparent substrate is covered by one or moreopacifying layers of ink or other pigments.
 66. A security document ortoken according to claim 64 wherein the transparent substrate is coveredby one or more layers of stiff material to form a document or token inthe form of a card.
 67. A security document or token according to claim64 wherein the transparent substrate comprises a polymeric material. 68.A security document or token according to claim 57 having at least oneregion of partial or varying opacity adjacent to or surrounding thetransparent region.
 69. A security document or token according to claim68 wherein part of the biometric or photographic image extends into saidat least one region of partial or varying opacity.
 70. A securitydocument or token according to claim 57 wherein part of the biometric orphotographic image extends beyond the transparent region into at leastone substantially opaque region of the document or token adjacent to orsurrounding the transparent region.
 71. A security document or tokenbearing indicia, wherein the document or token has a transparent region,at least one region of partial or varying opacity adjacent to orsurrounding the transparent region, and an image provided in thetransparent region, the image being substantially distinguishable whenviewed from both sides of the document or token, and the image extendinginto the at least one region of partial or varying opacity.
 72. Asecurity document or token according to claim 71 wherein part of theimage extends beyond said at least one region of partial or varyingopacity into at least one substantially opaque region adjacent to orsurrounding said at least one region of partial or varying opacity. 73.A security document or token according to claim 71 wherein said at leastone region of partial or varying opacity is formed by at least onepartially opacifying pigment coating.
 74. A security document or tokenaccording to claim 73 wherein different forms of said at least onepartially opacifying pigment coating have different proportions of amajor portion of pigment in a minor portion of polymeric binder toprovide different degrees of opacity for one or more regions of varyingopacity.
 75. A security document or token according to claim 73 whereindifferent thicknesses of a partially opacifying pigment coating areapplied to form one or more regions of varying opacity.
 76. A securitydocument or token according to claim 57 wherein the image comprises adigital image.
 77. A security document or token according to claim 57wherein the image is a printed image.
 78. A security document or tokenaccording to claim 57 wherein the image is a laser printed image.
 79. Asecurity document or token according to claim 57 wherein the image isformed onto an imaging laminate which is bonded to at least thetransparent region of the document or token.
 80. A security document ortoken according to claim 71 wherein said at least one region of partialor varying opacity and the image are applied to a support or substrateof the document or token in such a manner that removal of the image fromthe support or substrate will also result in removal or damage of atleast one region of partial or varying opacity.
 81. A security documentor token according to claim 80 wherein the adhesion between the imageand the at least one region of partial or varying opacity is greaterthan the adhesion between the at least one region of partial or varyingopacity and the support or substrate.
 82. A security document or tokenaccording to claim 80 wherein the image is formed onto an imaginglaminate which is bonded to the support or substrate and to the at leastone region of partial or varying opacity, and the adhesion between theimaging laminate and the at least one region of partial or varyingopacity is greater than the adhesion between the at least one region ofpartial or varying opacity and the support or substrate.
 83. A securitydocument or token according to claim 57 further including at least onesecurity laminate provided on at least one side of the support orsubstrate on which the image is provided.
 84. A security document ortoken according to claim 83 wherein security laminates are provided onboth sides of the support or substrate to encapsulate the image and thesupport or substrate.
 85. A security document or token according toclaim 80 wherein the at least one region of partial or varying opacityis applied over the image, a security laminate is applied over the atleast one region of partial or varying opacity, and the adhesion betweenthe at least one region of partial or varying opacity and the image isgreater than the adhesion between the security laminate and the at leastone region of partial or varying opacity.
 86. A security document ortoken according to claim 80 wherein a plurality of regions of partial orvarying opacity are provided, and removal of the image results inremoval or damage of at least one of the regions of partial or varyingopacity and leaving at least one other region of partial or varyingopacity present on the support or substrate.
 87. A method of forming asecurity document or token comprising the steps of providing a supportwith a transparent region, and providing a biometric image in thetransparent region, the biometric image being substantiallydistinguishable when viewed from both sides of the support.
 88. A methodaccording to claim 87 wherein the support comprises a substantiallyopaque substrate, and a transparent portion of plastics material isprovided in the substrate to form the transparent region.
 89. A methodaccording to claim 87 wherein the support comprises a substrate oftransparent plastics material, the method further comprising the step ofcovering the transparent plastics substrate with one or more opacifyinglayers except in the area of the transparent region.
 90. A methodaccording to claim 87 further comprising the step of applying one ormore regions of partial or varying opacity to the support adjacent to orsurrounding the transparent region.
 91. A method according to claim 90wherein said one or more regions of partial or varying opacity areapplied by at least partially bonding said regions to the support.
 92. Amethod according to claim 90 wherein at least one pigment coating ofpartial or varying opacity is applied to the support to form the one ormore regions of partial or varying opacity.
 93. A method according toclaim 92 wherein different forms of partially opacifying pigmentcoatings are applied to the support to provide the one or more regionsof partial or varying opacity.
 94. A method according to claim 92wherein at least one partially opacifying pigment coating is applied todifferent areas of said support in different thicknesses to provide oneor more regions of varying opacity.
 95. A method according to claim 90wherein the biometric image is applied in such a manner as to extendpartially into said one or more regions of partial or varying opacity.96. A method of forming a security document or token comprising thesteps of providing a support with a transparent region, applying one ormore regions of partial or varying opacity to the support adjacent to orsurrounding the transparent region, and providing an image in thetransparent region, the image being substantially distinguishable whenviewed from both sides of the support, and the image extending into theat least one region of partial or varying opacity.
 97. A methodaccording to claim 87 further comprising the step of applying the imageto extend beyond the transparent region partially into at least onesubstantially opaque region adjacent to or surrounding the transparentregion.
 98. A method according to claim 96 further comprising the stepof applying the image to extend beyond said one or more regions ofpartial or varying opacity into at least one substantially opaque regionadjacent to or surrounding the one or more regions of partial or varyingopacity.
 99. A method according to claim 87 further including the stepof applying the image directly to the support by printing.
 100. A methodaccording to claim 98 wherein the image is applied by laser printing.101. A method according to claim 87 including the step of applying theimage indirectly, via an imaging laminate including the image.
 102. Amethod according to claim 101 wherein the image is applied to theimaging laminate by thermal transfer printing.
 103. A method accordingto claim 101 including the step of bonding the imaging laminate to thesupport.
 104. A method according to claim 96 wherein said at least oneregion or partial or varying opacity and the image are applied to thesupport in such a manner that removal of the image from the support willalso result in removal or damage of at least one region of partial orvarying opacity.
 105. A method according to claim 104 wherein the atleast one region of partial or varying opacity and the image are appliedin such a manner that adhesion between the image and the at least oneregion of partial or varying opacity is greater than the adhesionbetween the at least one region of partial or varying opacity and thesupport.
 106. A method according to claim 104 including the steps offorming the image onto an imaging laminate, and bonding the imaginglaminate to the support and to the at least one region of partial orvarying opacity, wherein the adhesion between the imaging laminate andthe at least one region of partial or varying opacity is greater thanthe adhesion between the at least one region of partial or varyingopacity and the support.
 107. A method according to claim 87 furtherincluding the step of providing at least one security laminate on atleast one side of the support on which the image is provided.
 108. Amethod according to claim 107 further including the step of applyingsecurity laminates on both sides of the support to encapsulate the imageand the support.
 109. A method according to claim 104 including thesteps of applying the at least one region of partial or varying opacityover the image, applying a security laminate over the at least oneregion of partial or varying opacity, wherein the adhesion between theat least one region of partial or varying opacity and the image isgreater than the adhesion between the security laminate and the at leastone region of partial or varying opacity.
 110. A method according toclaim 104 including the step of providing a plurality of regions ofpartial or varying opacity, wherein removal of the image results inremoval or damage of at least one of said plurality of regions leavingat least one other of said plurality of regions present on the support.111. A method according to claim 110 including the steps of applying atleast one region of partial or varying opacity on one side of thesupport, and applying at least one other region of partial or varyingopacity on the opposite side of the support.
 112. A method according toclaim 87 or claim 96 wherein the image is a photographic image of aperson's face, the image enabling the unique facial structure of theperson to be identified and distinguished from both sides of thedocument.